How to write fiction that feels real: dialogue

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Slide 1: Slide
EngelsMiddelbare schoolvwoLeerjaar 5

This lesson contains 15 slides, with interactive quizzes, text slides and 1 video.

time-iconLesson duration is: 45 min

Items in this lesson

Slide 1 - Slide

3

Slide 2 - Video

02:23
Give an example of something a child might say.

Slide 3 - Open question

03:07
redundant =
A
logisch
B
overbodig
C
nodig
D
terugkerend

Slide 4 - Quiz

02:23
Now think of something a wizard might say.

Slide 5 - Open question

How do you show who's saying what?
  •  Often, fiction writers start a new paragraph each time the speaker changes.
  •  You can also include dialogue tags such as "he said," "she murmured," "I asked." 
  • You can skip the dialogue tags when it's obvious who's talking without them. 

Slide 6 - Slide

Slide 7 - Slide

Edit dialogue to trim off most of the fat.
 
A lot of what people say is just blah-blah-blah, but you don't want to bore your reader. 
 

Slide 8 - Slide

Slide 9 - Slide

Slide 10 - Slide

Show how the character speaks instead of telling it.
 
If the character speaks angrily, you can make this come through in her words -- it's therefore often not necessary to add an expressive dialogue tag such as, "she said angrily." 
The same if a character is shouting or crying, etc. 
Keep the reader's attention on your character's speech, not your explanation of it.

Slide 11 - Slide

Now it's your turn!

Together with a classmate choose a prompt and  type a short dialogue. 
After 6 minutes you will share your dialogue with  the class: keep it decent... 



timer
6:00

Slide 12 - Slide

Choose: 
Prompt 1: young decorator

Parent comes home from a trip and discover that his/her teenager has redecorated the house while he/she was gone. The teenager tries to convince the parent that this was a good idea.
Prompt 2: dangerous suggestion
A man suggests to his girlfriend that she get cosmetic surgery. Write the conversation.
Prompt 3: explain that baby
Your character kidnaps a baby. (What is the motive?) Your character's husband/wife, discovers your character changing diapers in the living room, and wants to know what's going on.
Prompt 4:  reluctant roommate
Friend A thinks it would be great to share an apartment with Friend B. Friend B would rather die but wants to get out of this without hurting Friend A's feelings.




Slide 13 - Slide

Upload a picture of your dialogue

Slide 14 - Open question

Slide 15 - Link